Leo of Ghant

Leo of Ghant
Duke of Arretium
Born	(1990-08-31) 31 August 1990 Empress Elena Hospital, Ghish, Ghant
Spouse	Leandra of Keld (m. 2016)
Issue Detail	Prince Constantine Princess Philippa Prince Peter
Full name Leo John Robert Aurelius
House	Gentry
Father	John IV of Ghant
Mother	Isabella of Latium
Religion	Church of Ghant
Military career
Allegiance	Ghant
Service/branch	Ghantish Army
Years of service	2009–present

Prince Leo of Ghant (Leo John Robert Aurelius; b. 31 August 1990) commonly known as Prince Leo, is third child and second son of John IV of Ghant and Princess Isabella of Latium. At the time of his birth, Leo was third in line to the Obsidian Throne; he is currently fifth.

Born at Empress Elena Hospital, in Ghish, Leo was educated at Sanctus Michaelis, in Castellum, and later underwent officer training and university studies at Academia Militaris Olympia. While at Olympia, he studied international strategy and participated in the Leadership Development Program. Following his graduation he was commissioned as a Captain in the Ghantish Army, and served as a defense attaché at the Ghantish Embassy in Castellum. Later, Leo served alongside Latin Armed Forces, and the 4th legion before he took a leave of absence in 2017.

In spring 2018, he was appointed Imperial Justiciar of Ghant. His tenure as Justiciar saw an increase in investigations and prosecutions into corruption among Ghantish imperial courtiers and officials.

Early Life

Leo was born at Empress Elena Hospital, in Ghish, Ghant on 31 August 1990. He is the third child of John IV of Ghant and Princess Isabella of Latium. He was named Leo for his grandfather Leo X Claudius and John for his father. His birth was celebrated in Ghant and in Latium. Leo was baptized into the Church of Ghant, on 20 January 1991. His godparents are X, Y; then Jacobus, Prince of Youth (his mother's brother); and Stephania Pinaria (Jacobus's wife). He and his siblings were raised at the Imperial Palace, in Ghish during the reign of his grandfather. At court, Leo was known as an active, lively, and willful child.

From 2004 to 2018, Leo spent most of his time in Latium under the supervision of his uncle Emperor Jacobus VI Claudius. Due to his father’s medical conditions, Leo and his family often spent much of winter in the Periclean region, including Montgisard, Gran Aligonia and the Latin island of Mariana.

Education

Initially, Leo's father hired tutors from both Ghant and Latium, particularly Perateia, to educate Leo and his siblings. The most prominent of which was Pankratios Anemas. In 2004, Leo and his sister Theodora were sent to Latium for their education. While in Latium, Leo was under the care of his uncle, Emperor Jacobus VI Claudius, and resided in Castellum.

Leo’s education in Latium began at Lyceum Sanctus Michaelis, where he was placed in the same class as his cousin Princess Maria of Latium. Due to his education, Leo is fluent in Latin, as well as his native Ghantish. He also received lessons on Arthuristan, Audonic, and Mysian.

He then attended Lyceum Sanctus Michaelis for secondary school, earning his bac in 2007. He chose to forgo a gap year, and joined the Ghantish Army, where he enrolled at Academia Militaris Olympia for officer training after being granted a foreign cadet exemption from his uncle. While at Olympia, he primarily studied international strategy and was a participant in the Leadership Development Science program. He graduated in 2010 with a commission as a Captain in the Ghantish Army.

Military Career

File:Leo of Ghant and Latium.jpg

Prince Leo at an Imperial court event in 2015.

Leo received his military training at Academia Militaris Olympia, Latium’s main military service academy. He was first enrolled as a cadet in 2009, and during his first year participated in the Student Conference on Belisarian Affairs as his primary extracurricular activity. After undergoing training and schooling for three years at Olympia, Leo was commissioned on 1 June 2012 as a Decurion. Following his commission, Leo sought active service, but instead his brother assigned him to the Ghantish Embassy, in Castellum, as a defense attaché where he served as a liaison with Latin Imperial court. Serving in this role from 2010 to 2016, Leo was regularly at the Palace of Augustus, and worked in close cooperation with Latin officials on matters of Ghantish-Latin relations. In 2016, Leo was named a military tribune by his uncle – the first to either a foreign national or foreign-born prince in nearly 300 years. Leo was put on leave in early January 2017, and remains a member of the army reserve.

Perateian Synedrion

In 2015, Leo was appointed to the Perateian Synedrion by his cousin Emperor Constantine XII Claudius. His role on the Synedrion was undefined early on, but he was one of Constantine's chief advisors during his early reign as junior emperor. Leo later oversaw the creation of the Local Council, and served as its chairman in the emperor's absence.

Leo resigned from his post on 11 July 2016.

Ghantish Privy Council

Imperial Justiciar

In spring 2017, Leo was appointed Imperial Justiciar of Ghant by his half-brother, Emperor Nathan IV. Prior to his appointment, he held a seat on the Ghantish Privy Council as an Adjunct since 2006, but had been absent from court since 2015. Since becoming Justiciar, Leo has removed many of his predecessor's appointments and installed his own subordinates. He has made an effort to target corruption in Ghantish imperial court, and has authorized the investigation and arrest of a number of court officials.

Despite prioritizing an anti-corruption agenda, he has numerous critics at court and in Ghant who have denounced his liberal use of Imperial Marshals to carry out arrests. The most notable of these critics is his cousin, Princess Cassandra, who has pardoned a number of those who have been arrested and prosecuted. These pardons are said to have caused an ever growing rift at court between the various factions. In 2019, reports circulated that Leo offered his resignation to his brother Emperor Nathan IV; however a spokesperson from the Justicar's office stated that the report was "unfounded."

Imperial Manus

Leo was appointed Imperial Manus, charged with the administration and the premier office of the Ghantish Imperial court, replacing his cousin Princess Cassandra.

Personal life

Little is known of Prince Leo's personal life. The most widely known fact of Leo's personal life is that he and Emperor Constantine XX are close friends; Leo was the best man at Constantine's wedding in December 2017. Leo is a known football fan, and is a fan of Liga Premier side Imperialis Ianiculum. Along with his military training, Leo is known to be trained at traditional arms, though his swordsmanship skills remain largely unknown. He came into possession of the Arragaran steel sword Lokatz.

In February 2018, Leo came into ownership of Palatium Blachernae, in Blachernae, Latium. It is his primary residence in Latium, though he maintains an apartment at various Imperial residences, including the Palace of Augustus.

Courtships

Rumors of relationship between Leo and Anna Kinnamina, now a Latin Senator, extend as far back as secondary school. The first instance of this was when the pair attended end of the year formal together at Sanctus Michaelis in 2008 and 2009. Over the years, the two have been spotted together at numerous events, state functions, and even in the public sphere. In 2010, Leo briefly courted XXXX, and from 2014 to 2015 courted Antonia Antistia.

In summer 2014, Leo traveled to the Kingdom of Izotza, in Ghant, to court Queen Izolde I at the request of his brother. Leo knew little of Izolde at the time and according to those at Ghantish court, she was eager for Leo's arrival. Leo remained in Izotza for a week upon his first visit. Leo frequented Izotza between 2015.

Leo became the owner of Palatium Blachernae in 2018.

Marriage

In February 2016, Leo traveled to Voorlurra to obtain approve to court with Leandra of Keld. The courtship was confirmed in April 2016. They became engaged on 12 July 2016, with an official announcement by the Ghantish Imperial Court a week later.

Leo resigned his post in Perateia following the announcement of the engagement, and the couple resided together at the Imperial Palace, in Ghish, thereafter. He was subsequently appointed to the office of Imperial Justiciar by his brother Emperor Nathan. Leo and Joanna were married on 19 October 2016, at the Ghish Cathedral, upon which Leo was granted an estate in Low Ghant by his brother Emperor Nathan.

Children

Leo and Joanna had their first child, Constantine, on 18 October 2017. They announced that Joanna was expecting their second child in January 2020. Their second child, Philippa, was born on 4 July 2020. Leandra gave birth to the couple's third child on 12 November 2022. Leo and Leandra have three children:

• Prince Constantine John Michael James, born 9 September 2017 at Empress Elisabeth Hospital in Ghish.
• Princess Philippa Diana Christina Amelia, born 4 July 2020 at Empress Elisabeth Hospital in Ghish.
• Prince Peter James Robert William, born 12 November 2022 at Empress Elisabeth Hospital in Ghish.

Titles, styles, honors and arms

Titles and styles

• 31 August 1990 – present: His Imperial Highness The Prince Leo
  • 19 May 1997 – 8 November 2014: His Imperial Highness The Prince Imperial

In Latium

• 31 January 2019 – present: His Imperial Highness The Duke of Arretium

Leo is a Prince of Ghant by birth, based on his status as the second son of John IV of Ghant and a male-line member of the House of Gentry. While entitled to the rank of "prince" in Ghant. Due to his royal birth, Leo does not use a surname for everyday purposes. According to classmates at Olympia, Leo's cadet uniform listed his surname as "Hyperboreae" (of Ghant).

He is a Knight of the Order of the Ram, and holds Knight Commander of the Ancient Equestrian Order and Grand Cross of the Sacred Order of Felix. He is also a recipient of the Medal for Valor and holds Membership in the Most Ancient Praetorian Order. He is a member of the Emperor's Council and a Personal aide-de-camp to the Emperor.

Honors

• Gelonia: Knight of the Illustrious Order of the Red Hand
• Latium: Knight of the Order of the Winged Ram
• Latium: Knight of the Sacred Order of Golden Eagle
• Latium: Knight of the Ancient Equestrian Order
• Latium: Member of the Order of the Grass Crown
• Perateia: Knight of the Order of Golden Fleece
• Schaumberg: Knight of the Order of the Elizabeth Cross
• Rahdenburg: Knight of the Order of Red Eagle
• Sydalon: Knight of the Order of the Holy Lance 30 June 2017

Medals

• Latium: Recipient of the Medal for Valor

Issue

Name	Birth	Death	Notes
By Leandra of Keld
Prince Constantine	(2017-09-09) 9 September 2017
Princess Philippa	(2020-07-04) 4 July 2020
Prince Peter	(2022-11-12) 12 November 2022

Ancestry

Ancestors of Leo of Ghant

16. Robert, Crown Prince of Ghant 8. Michael I of Ghant 17. Princess Lucia of Alba 4. Alan I of Ghant 18. Alan V of Gelonia 9. Princess Beladore of Gelonia 19. Sara Courcouia 2. John IV of Ghant 20. Laurendi, Lord of Langael 10. Raul, Lord of Langael 21. Princess Genna of Gaemar 5. Grace Galan 22. Siorious Guegani 11. Delfina Guegani 23. Theodora Perperna 1. Prince Leo, Duke of Alba 24. Theodosius Claudius, Duke of Adrianople 12. Jacobus Claudius, Duke of Adrianople 25. Princess Isobel of Gaemar 6. Leo Claudius, Duke of Adrianople 26. Leon I, Duke of Thapse 13. Princess Isabella of Thapse 27. Sophie of Melfi 3. Princess Isabella of Latium 28. John X Anicius 14. Constantine XIX Anicius 29. Joanna I Anicia 7. Diana I Anicia 30. William II, Elector of Rahdenburg 15. Christine of Rahdenburg 31. Adalinda of Nyrundy

See also

• House Gentry
• Duke of Alba

Leo of Ghant House of Gentry Born: 31 August 1990
Lines of succession
Preceded by Prince William of Ghant	Succession to the Ghantish throne 5th in line	Followed by Prince Constantine of Ghant
Political offices
Preceded by Theodosius Rasinius	Latin consul 2019 With: Constantine XX Claudius	Succeeded by Valentia Verrucosa